Bacon and Brussels Sprout Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 6 servings pepper black freshly ground
• 4 cups brussels sprouts 
• 3 tablespoons butter 
• 1 pound pasta with lines, or penne
• 1 cup chicken stock see 
• 0.5 cup cooking wine dry white
• 1 tablespoon evoo 
• 3 tablespoons flour 
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 cup gruyere cheese shredded
• 6 servings nutmeg freshly grated
• 1  onion chopped
• 1 cup parmigiano-reggiano grated
• 6 servings salt 
• 1 cup sharp cheddar shredded white
• 4 ounces center-cut bacon chopped
• 3 cups milk whole

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• knife
• whisk
• pot
• baking pan
• kitchen towels

Directions

1. Watch how to make this recipe.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
3. With a sharp paring knife, core the Brussels sprouts and separate the leaves; place in a large bowl.
4. Heat a large pot of water to boil and salt the water. Parboil the leaves to tender crisp, 2 minutes.
5. Remove with a spider, drain and cool. Dry the leaves on a kitchen towel.
6. Add more water to fill the pot back up for the pasta, return to a boil.
7. Heat a saucepot over medium heat; add the EVOO and brown the bacon.
8. Remove and drain.
9. Pour off most of the drippings, then add the butter and melt.
10. Add the garlic and onions, stir 5 minutes.
11. Add a little salt and pepper, then stir in the flour for 1 minute.
12. Whisk in the wine to deglaze the saucepot.
13. Whisk in the stock and then the milk. Season with a little bit of nutmeg. Thicken the sauce to coat the back of a spoon. Reduce the heat to low.
14. Boil the pasta to just shy of al dente, 5 to 6 minutes, drain.
15. Stir two-thirds each of the Cheddar, gruyere and Parmigiano-Reggiano into the sauce in a figure-eight motion.
16. Drain the pasta, then toss with the Brussels sprouts, bacon and sauce, and pour into a baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal, or bake to serve.
17. Place into the oven and bake until heated through and bubbly and brown on top.